From Macro‐Nationalism to Anti‐Imperialism: Pan‐Latinism in France in the Late Twentieth Century

Abstract

AbstractPan‐Latinism, like pan‐Germanism and pan‐Slavism, was a macro‐nationalist movement which emerged in the nineteenth century. Supporters of pan‐Latinism deplored the decline of the ‘Latin’ civilization vis‐à‐vis Anglo‐Saxon or Germanic powers, and dreamed of creating a new Roman Empire. This movement took root in countries such as Italy, Spain, Portugal, Romania and the Latin American republics, but most of all in France, the biggest ‘Latin’ power at the time. After the Second World War, a French initiative led to the foundation of a ‘Latin Union’ – an international organization which became the main organ of pan‐Latinism. French partisans of pan‐Latinism conveyed this ideology as a form of resistance to the increasing Anglo‐Saxon linguistic and cultural hegemony. But rather than reflecting a pluralistic vision, French initiatives to promote pan‐Latinism generally strove to increase their country's influence in Europe and beyond. This was particularly evident from 1983 to 1997, when the Latin Union was led by the Frenchman Philippe Rossillon, an enthusiastic defender of Francophonie, which replaced the idea of a ‘Latin’ civilization with a community of French‐speaking regions. This coincided with the goals of pan‐Latinism, which generally strove to augment France's international importance and influence.